Saturday, October 13, 2012

Seven Arrested in online Gay Prostitution Sting in Harris County

Authorities in Texas took to the Internet to nab seven men for arranging to pay for anal male sex in north Harris County during an
undercover prostitution sting Thursday.
One of the suspects is Joseph Francis Andolino, a 59-year-old senior vice president with Halliburton.
An official with Halliburton confirmed that Andolino is an executive
at the oil field services giant.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office conducted the operation that was
focused on gay people soliciting sex online, deputies said. Undercover
deputies posed as male escorts online and arranged to meet the men at
spots off Interstate 45 and F.M. 1960.
Deputies said when the men arrived and agreed with undercover male deputies on a price for anal sex, they were arrested.
In addition to Andolino, arrested and charged with prostitution in the sting were Eric Lucero, 43; Jose Dubon, 32; Richard Wayne Learn, 63; Richard Anthony Thompson, 51; Dean Andrew Starke, 52; Michael Allen Barth, 50.
Prostitution is a misdemeanor unless a person has three convictions for the offense, when it becomes a state jail felony, said Donna Hawkins, spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office on a regular basis targets people
soliciting sex via the Internet as well on the street, said Christina Garza, office spokeswoman.